The end of self...

What if suffering isn't good or evil, it just is. And our response is what matters?

"When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way."

Matthew 5:1‭-‬12 NET

https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.5.1-12.NET

We are so quick to look for physical beauty, strength, education, success... And point these out as the epicenter of virtue. 

But one thing I've learned this past few years, is that suffering produces perseverance, patience, and character.

If...

If it's responded to correctly. 

Or...

Suffering could also produce bitterness, selfishness, depression. Wow is me.

The difference seems to be whether we allow the event to turn is inward to focusing on self or outward to focusing on God. 

I do not recognize the man I was this time last year. I expect this time next year I'll be doing things I've been avoiding all my life.

I never imagined I could say this... But I'm grateful for the character I have today, despite (never because of) the things I had to go through to get here. 

I will never be grateful for the trials but I can be grateful for the changes they induced. 

God's first choice is our willing reliance on Him. But reliance on him through any means is sweet. 

Selah

Read more →

Open doors do not equal God's will...

I once had a disagreement with a young man at a Biblical Retreat. He didn't want to hear God's voice, he wanted to be led by open doors. If the opportunity came, it was God. 

Fatalism. 

Such a sinister thing. It has the sound of Wisdom when it is Folly. 

We cannot have Faith for what we have not Heard. Faith comes by Hearing (not reading or seeing). 

Jesus was surrounded by a crowd that wanted to make Him King. But he had heard His Father. He knew his Destiny and Plan. He ran from that "open door of opportunity". He went off by himself, into the hills, to be alone with his Daddy and hear His voice. 

Anytime we are presented with an opportunity, we should do the same. Sleep on it. Get away. Hear Daddy's voice, and get Wisdom about that decision.

Don't be led by opportunity, that's the Tree of Knowledge.

Be led by the Spirit of God, the Voice of His Word, and by the Heart of your Daddy. 

Are you facing an opportunity today but feeling anxious about it? Could be a signal to get with Daddy and hear His heart.

Selah.

Darrell

Read more →

Look to Jesus in your pain.

Jesus visited the Pool of Bethesda and quietly healed one man. So quietly, in fact, the healed man didn't know who Jesus was. There were so many at the pool that the man referred to them as "someone always gets there first". 

In this moment, Jesus healed one man but did not heal a crowd of them. Most of the time we see the scriptures say "Jesus healed all"... But even then we know that there were likely many who never saw Jesus, never heard him, He didn't come to their city, and they didn't seek Him out.

Both in His days on Earth and still today, Jesus Heals! He absolutely does. But if He doesn't show up at your door spoon feeding you miracles, will you seek Him out?

Philip Yancey gives a compelling argument that suffering can be used to help us transform. God NEVER brings suffering to us, that's Calvinist nonesense. But sometimes He walks through suffering with us, instead of delivering us from it.

The Bible says God works all things for the good of those who LOVE Him. 

This doesn't mean he brings bad things to you "for His Glory". Again, Calvanist nonesense. 

But...

In a broken world stuff breaks. We live in a broken world, stuff will break. It's certain.

Our response brings different outcomes. 

We can focus on the pain, and grow bitter.

Or

We can Love Jesus, turn to Him, and allow Him to do a work in our hearts. We may even find we grow and mature during the painful season in ways we never could during the pleasure season.

Shalom means: Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken, Everything Whole and Complete.

Shalom is His will for you, now and always. But perfect Shalom will not happen for us in this lifetime. We are in the world but not of it.

Why His Shalom is realized on this Earth for some in some ways and not others, I don't know. 

But we all experience a measure of His Shalom, and we all experience an eager expectation of ultimate Shalom after.

Selah.

Read more →

Watching the wind...

I'm watching the wind take tall strong pine trees and toss them back and forth, whip my American Flag to and fro violently...

Yet...

Am I?

Am I watching the wind?

I am watching its affects. The wind is invisible.

As I read Philip Yancey this morning, I find I am in need of a theology shift. I can carry forward some of the beautiful lessons of yester-year's moves of God without carrying forward their excesses. 

I can look to Faith and Healing as true, real, and necessary parts of living in God.

But not to the exclusion of Pain and Suffering.

Both the Heights of Pleasure/Reward and the Depths of Pain/Suffering are parts of the life we live on this broken Earth.

In a broken world, things break. 

That's it. That's the cause of suffering. It isn't God's will that you suffer but the world is broken and His promise of ultimate restoration is future-tense. 

When Jesus steps foot on the Earth, he will make things new. But even then, 1,000 years later there will be a second round of suffering before the world is re-made in His image. 

So until the ULTIMATE restoration of all things into His will... There will be Pain. It will be a part of life. God will walk through the valley of the shadow of death with us. 

Note: Walk through, not avoid.

But out of that experience, he also brings comfort, banquet table, and anointing.

Healing and Death.

Pleasure and Pain.

These are all part of the experience.

I can find Him in all of it.

If I turn to Him in both, both will be more fulfilling and rewarding, despite the Pain.

I may not always see Him in every moment, sometimes His wind is very still. 

Sometimes He will rush in and move things, other times He will be a gentle touch, other times He will be so still I am not aware, but He is there. 

Always there.  

If I can breathe then I know the air of His presence is there, felt or not.

Selah.

Read more →

Get paid to work for God?

Are you employed by God?

... 🤔🧐💲💹🤯...

Not by "The Church".

Not in a "Ministry".

But actually working for God himself.

You can be a banker, writer, contractor, ditch digger, hair stylist, teacher, artist, etc... At you day job, but still be employed by God.

He's asking us to love people well and usher them to His presence.

He pays his harvesters and planters well.

I'm broadening my perspective today. Instead of putting my head down and making it... I will look up, and see who might need my Daddy's touch today.

Far more difficult than it sounds but far more rewarding.

Selah.

Read more →

What if... Faith

What if... 

As children we play with what if, we imagine a thousand scenarios for our characters. As we enter adulthood, what if becomes a negative. What if childlike Faith meant turning are what if back around?

What if... Could be a statement used to disempower, what if something awful happens?

What if... Could be a statement of empowerment, what if we tried it this way or that way?

What if... Could be a statement of vision and dream, what if we could do anything we wanted how would we start working towards that?

As I look into 2020 & beyond, I'm finding that I've moved from a what if negative to a what if empowerment and I'm now looking at moving into a what if visionary.

What if you decided to take Authority and Dominion over 2020? What if...

Read more →

Merry or Not... Christmas

This is going to be a freestyle post. 

Photo: DarrellWolfe

There are many things to be grateful for this year. We didn't just survive we thrived. We had a lot of great accomplishments, met good friends, said goodbye to a few friends. The boys and I had a good day. I wasn't as present as I planned to be, but I made an effort to be as present as I knew to be. 

I found out that this morning, one of the Widows I know from the Widow groups, suddenly died this morning. It's sad for me and for a lot of the people who knew her, but she's been reunited to her loved ones and to Jesus. From her perspective, it was the greatest Christmas Gift she could have received. I'm sure she'll enjoy meeting my late wife. They'll be good friends. 

Not that a widow needs the reminder, but it's a good reminder that life is short and fragile. She went home to be with Jesus on Christmas morning 2019. So whatever you or I'm going through today, just embrace all of it, find a few things to be grateful for. It's a good reminder to be present each and every moment of every day.

Signing off, Merry Christmas, or not so Merry Christmas, either way embrace all of it.

Read more →